X-Men TV series gets better with Angel's Amy Acker

Angel's Amy Acker is adding yet more geek cred to her CV with a huge role in the X-Men TV series - which has also announced that it'll feature yet another classic mutant.

The upcoming Fox pilot follows parents forced to go on the run to protect their family when they discover that their teenage children have mutant powers.

True Blood's Stephen Moyer was previously cast as the father Reed, and now we know Amy Acker will play the mother Kate Stewart. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the couple are on the outs until this crisis unites them.

Acker is a genre favourite for playing both the delightfully geeky Fred and ancient demon Illyria in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer spinoff Angel, and most recently starred in Person of Interest.

Photo credit: Warner Bros.

(Amy Acker as Illyria)

She also has previous Marvel experience from a brief stint in Agents of SHIELD as Coulson's long-lost love - but Agents of SHELD and this upcoming X-Men TV series do not share the same continuity.

Amy isn't the only exciting newcomer joining the Fox pilot. Bunheads' Emma Dumont has landed the role of classic X-Men character Polaris - a mutant with the ability to bend magnetism to her will.

Polaris has at times been aligned with the X-Men and several of its offshoot teams since her first appearance in Marvel Comics back in 1968. She's also secretly the daughter of Magneto (sometimes).

Photo credit: Daniel Zuchnik / Getty Images

(Emma Dumont)

Rounding out the new cast additions is Percy Hynes White (Night at the Museum 3) as one of the teens struggling to control his mutant power.